KORONADAL CITY – The Provincial Task Force- End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF ELCAC) through the DILG-South Cotabato conducted its 3rd Cluster Heads meeting yesterday to monitor the progress of its services coming from various agencies.
Before this month ends, the PTF-ELCAC is set to visit again the area of Ned, Lake Sebu to bring another set of services to its constituents.
The task force will bring the following services to the area through the following clusters;
Social services cluster headed by Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist as the co-lead is tasked to bring basic services, poverty reduction, livelihood and employment, and; infrastructure and resource management.
Governance Cluster headed by the Provincial Governor’s office and the DILG as the Co-lead is tasked in bringing situational awareness and knowledge management, local government empowerment, legal cooperation, and; strategic communication.
Sectoral Organization cluster headed by the PSWDO and the Provincial Information office as the co-lead is tasked with sectoral unification, capability building, and empowerment.
While the Peace and Order Cluster headed by the PGO and the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police as the co-lead is in charge of the local peace engagement; peace, law enforcement, and development; E-Clip and amnesty program; and international engagement.
“ Ang ating serbisyo ay patuloy kahit mayroong pandemya sa ating probinsiya.” Provincial Administrator Atty. Renette B. Bergado said during the meeting.
Bergado said this is in line with the vision of South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo in giving Former Rebels (FRs) a second chance to live in the realm of the society.
“Under the administration of Governor Tamayo, his focus is on health and education and all are given equal opportunities.” She said,
She added this is to make everyone feels, especially these FRs to believe in the system which can eventually motivate them to go back to the plains and live along with the community.
Last year, Governor Tamayo signed an Executive Order Institutionalizing the Whole-of-Nation (WON) Approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace and End Local Communist Armed Conflict or ELCAC.
It can be noted that on his fourth day of office, the Governor was able to facilitate the peaceful negotiation between Clans in Brgy. Ned, Lake Sebu, ending the long time conflict which already causes disturbance to peace and order of the community.
Many initiatives followed through, the latest was the surrender of at least 47 “Militia ng Bayan” at Sitio Proper, Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu, and they were given a set of assistance.
In June, another 32 more New People’s Army (NPA) rebels laid down their firearms and renewed allegiance to the government in a ceremony spearheaded by the joint provincial and municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) in Tantangan town, South Cotabato.
The initiative is in adherence to the Executive Order No. 70 “ Institutionalizing the whole –of nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, creating a national task force to Enad Local Communist Conflict, and directing the adoption of a national peace framework” issued by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Signed on December 4, 2018.
